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joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam
The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.
Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.
Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!
Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.
Click here to report a problem with this page.
Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:
- This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "western union" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "money gram" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "mtcn" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
Fraud email example:
From: "Western Union Pay-out Gold card." <interl.w.uniongoldcard@wss-id.org>
Reply-To: info.westernuniongoldcard01@gmail.com
Date: Tue, 28 Jun 2011 12:58:17 +0100 (BST)
Subject: The TAG & STAMP In BENIN REPUBLIC & send Them to The USA.
Attention Please. Â
 Thank you for accepting my email, Please note that the TAG & STAMP are Normally Obtained benin republic Before The Delivery will be release to your destination address. we have To Obtain The TAG & STAMP In BENIN REPUBLIC & send Them to The USA for the final release of your western union gold card. Please note that your tracking details are: HF258452854214AU. Due to the stop at Usa, you can not track it now till you send the requested fee of $32, to get you the TAG & STAMP In BENIN before you can track it and confirm it. Please you have to understand that you have to send the $32 with the Name : OGECHUKWU OMOKWE. I promise that there will be no more payment demanded from you again and this will be the last. I have to reconfirm it to you again.
You have to send te fee by Western union or money Gram only: Payment should be made via Western union Or Money Gram only with the name below:
1. RECEIVER NAME... OGECHUKWU OMOKWE
2. COUNTRY... BENINÂ REPUBLIC.
3. CITY... COTONOU .Add : 11 Missebo cotonou 2 Cotonou -Benin.
5. TEXT QUESTION... what colour  TEXT ANSWER... Yellow
7.Amount … $32
Forward the MTCN NUMBER xxx xxx xxx x.
Please as soon as you send the money, Please do send us the MTCN Please call me or i will call you this morning so that we can finishup every things by today without any further delay again. call me now.
Waiting to hear from you soon.
Best regards,
Ganesh Amoorthy
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